Vitamin B6 status of Finnish elderly. Comparison with Dutch younger adults and elderly. The effect of supplementation
Tolonen, M.; Schrijver, J.; Westermarck, T.; Halme, M.; Tuominen, S.E.; Frilander, A.; Keinonen, M.; Sarna, S.
International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research. Internationale Zeitschrift für Vitamin- und Ernahrungsforschung. Journal International de Vitaminologie et de Nutrition 58(1): 73-77
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9831 PMID: 3384588 Document Number: 324620
About 25% of Finnish and Dutch elderly appeared to be more or less deficient in vitamin B6 as compared to younger adults. Deficiency was observed at the cellular (PLP, EGOT and alpha-EGOT) as well as at the plasma level (PLP). The benefit of a one-year daily supplementation with 2 mg of pyridoxine-HCl was investigated at the biochemical and psychological level as compared to a placebo group. After one year, none of the supplemented elderly was deficient in biochemical terms. At the psychological level and at the level of general well-being, the elderly supplemented with vitamin B6 showed slight improvements. However, for the psychological variables significant correlations with the vitamin B6 parameters were not observed. Plasma fatty acids (e.g. gamma-linolenic acid) showed no correlation with the vitamin B6 status.